Kitesurfing Holiday in El Gouna – What to Expect on Arrival

What awaits you on a kitesurfing holiday in El Gouna? From arrival to your first day at the spot to a typical daily schedule. A practical guide.

You’ve got the flight, the hotel is booked, the course is arranged. Now what? What does the first day look like? Where do you go? What should you bring? This is a practical guide to what awaits you from the moment you step off the plane in Hurghada.

Arrival and Transfer

Hurghada airport (HRG) is the nearest airport. Visa, passport and arrival requirements depend on nationality and can change. Before departure, check your government’s current Egypt advice and the official Egypt e-Visa portal; do not rely on an old airport price or another traveller’s procedure.

The transfer to El Gouna takes roughly 30–40 minutes. You can book it through us and a driver will wait for you with a sign. Alternatively you can grab a taxi (they’ll approach you at the airport exit), but with a pre-arranged transfer you have peace of mind. Arrange it ideally in advance via our contact page. For the full rundown of options, see getting to El Gouna.

First Day in El Gouna

Hotel Check-in

El Gouna has hotels from 3★ to 5★. Most kiters stay at hotels on the lagoon (Sheraton, Steigenberger, Club Azur, Mövenpick) or in downtown El Gouna (cheaper, but a few minutes by tuk-tuk to the spot). If you’re still deciding where to stay, see accommodation in El Gouna.

Tuk-tuks and local taxis are common transport options inside El Gouna. Fares, pickup points and operating times vary, so confirm the price and route before travelling and use normal transport precautions.

First Visit to the Spot

Our spot is at the northern edge of El Gouna. The position can provide an open approach in the prevailing N–NW pattern, while the usable riding zone still depends on the live wind, water level, traffic and your ability. When you arrive, the team shows you the facilities and the active zones for that day:

• Where the showers and toilets are
• Where the beach club is
• Where equipment is stored
• Where the lagoon begins and where to enter the water
• Spot safety rules

One thing you’ll notice quickly: the lagoon has distinct areas. Its first roughly 800 m is knee-to-waist deep over sand, followed by an independent-riding zone and a dedicated deeper foil zone. Depth changes with tide and conditions, so check the day’s zone guidance.

Kitepass

A Kitepass is beach use for an independent rider who brings their own equipment. It is not a general admission ticket for every visitor. It includes:

• Access to the spot and beach
• Showers and facilities
• Rescue support available during operating hours; a specific intervention or response time cannot be guaranteed
• Beachboy service – kite inflation and setup

If you have a booked course or rent equipment from us, beach access and these facilities are already included — you do not buy a separate Kitepass. Non-kiting partners and families do not need a Kitepass merely to visit the beach club.

Assessment (If You Have a Course)

If you’ve booked a course, the first step is an assessment. The instructor determines your level – whether you’re a complete beginner or already have experience – and sets the programme accordingly. No unnecessary repetition of what you already know. No skipping what you’re missing. To see how the teaching works, read how we teach.

If you want to rent equipment, the team confirms that you ride upwind and can self-rescue, applies the local rules and checks the day’s conditions and equipment availability. An IKO or equivalent card is useful evidence of your demonstrated level, but it never replaces that practical decision.

Typical Day on a Kite Holiday

Here’s what an average day looks like for most of our guests.

Morning (7:00–10:00)

Breakfast at the hotel. The wind usually isn’t blowing yet, or it’s light. An ideal time for a stroll around El Gouna, a coffee at the marina, or working on your laptop (we have a coworking space right at the spot).

Some early birds go paddleboarding or snorkelling – the water is calmest in the morning.

Late Morning (10:00–12:00)

The wind starts picking up. If you have a course, lessons often begin around this time. After a safety briefing and rigging on the sand, initial drills move into the first roughly 800 m knee-to-waist-deep teaching area when conditions suit.

If you’re an independent rider, this is when you prepare – the beachboy inflates your kite and you choose the size based on the wind.

Lunch (12:00–14:00)

The beach club on the spot serves food all day. Egyptian and European cuisine – grilled meats, salads, pasta, sandwiches, fresh juices. And most importantly, you’re right on the beach overlooking the lagoon. Over lunch you watch everyone else kiting and tell yourself you need to get back out there.

Afternoon (14:00–17:00)

Prime kiting time. The thermal wind is at full strength – stable and predictable. This is when the best sessions happen. The lagoon fills with kites and the atmosphere is electric.

If you have a course, afternoon lessons are usually on the water – water starts, riding, and real-time coaching through a two-way BB Talkin Bluetooth helmet so your instructor can both talk to you and hear you while you ride.

Late Afternoon (17:00–19:00)

The wind slowly fades. Final sessions of the day. Sunset over the lagoon is one of the most beautiful sights you’ll experience on the Red Sea.

After kiting: a shower, a beer or tea at the beach club, chatting with other kitesurfers. The community on the spot is friendly – people talk about sessions, share tips, and make plans for tomorrow.

Evening (19:00+)

El Gouna has a surprisingly good nightlife. The downtown marina offers restaurants and bars – from Italian cuisine to sushi, from cocktail bars to chill-out lounges.

Our beach club stays open until the last guest leaves. So if you want to linger on the beach, you can.

What to Bring

Must Have

• Swimwear (several sets – they dry slowly in the winter months)
• Sunscreen SPF 50, waterproof
• Sunglasses with a strap
• Light clothing
• Sandals
• In summer, boardshorts and a rashguard are plenty; in winter (December–February) you’ll want a full, long wetsuit – or rent one from us

Nice to Have

• A UV-protection rash guard
• A light jacket for evenings (October–March)
• A GoPro or action camera
• A headlamp (for late evenings at the spot)
• A laptop (coworking available)

You Don’t Need

• Your own kite equipment (if you have a course or are renting – we run 250+ kites and 60+ boards)
• A tourist guidebook – El Gouna is easy to navigate
• A plug adapter – Egypt uses European outlets

For Those Who Didn’t Come Just for Kiting

El Gouna offers far more than kitesurfing. See things to do in El Gouna for the full picture, but a few highlights:

• Snorkelling and diving – coral reefs just offshore
• Golf – an 18-hole course, one of the best in the region
• Paddleboarding – on the calm lagoon, rental available from us
• Excursions – Luxor, Giza, desert safari (full-day trips)
• Marina – strolling, shops, cafés
• Spa – most hotels have spa centres
• Kids’ activities – a playground right at the spot, plus kids’ kitesurfing courses from around 5–6 years and 20 kg. The playground is not supervised childcare; an accompanying adult stays with the child and remains responsible

Practical Tips

Money

The Egyptian pound (EGP). ATMs are found throughout El Gouna. Cards are accepted at most restaurants and hotels, but you’ll want cash for markets and tuk-tuks. The exchange rate fluctuates, so check the current value before you travel.

Internet

WiFi in hotels and most restaurants. If you need mobile data, an Egyptian SIM card costs a few euros and can be bought at the airport.

Language

In El Gouna you can get by with English everywhere. At Kitepower, our instructors collectively speak eight languages – including Czech, Slovak, English, German, Polish, Russian, Italian and Arabic.

Travel awareness

El Gouna is a managed resort town with controlled entrances and local security. These features are useful context, not a guarantee about crime or personal safety. Solo travellers and families should use normal precautions and check current official Egypt advice before departure; see our practical travel-safety guide.

Departure Day

The transfer back to the airport follows the same route. We recommend leaving in good time before your flight. Leave your equipment in storage if you’re planning to return – no need to haul it home and back.

And then you’re on the plane, looking out at the Red Sea, thinking: “When am I coming back?”

Spoiler: about 8 in 10 of our guests do come back. And most of them say they should have done it sooner.

---

Planning a kite holiday? Get in touch and we’ll help you plan it. Or book a course right away.